It was 16 months ago Friday that the two teams last met during the regular season. The Panthers swept last year's season series 2-0, last beating Toronto 5-2 on Nov. 14, 1995. It's a story of contrasting schedules. Last season, the Panthers played the Leafs twice in their first 18 games. This season, they play the Leafs twice in their last 13. "It's always interesting when you play a team you haven't seen all year," coach Doug MacLean said.

This is the third time in four games the Panthers meet an opponent that is last in its its division. Toronto (25-38-5) is at the bottom of the Central Division. Before Thursday's 5-4 win over Vancouver, the Panthers beat the Islanders and lost to the Bruins, who are last in the Atlantic and Northeast Divisions, respectively.

Muller on block?

The Maple Leafs, on the verge of being eliminated from playoff contention, appear to be among the teams willing to deal veterans as part of a rebuilding process.

Kirk Muller is one of those veterans rumored to be on the trading block. Muller might be held out of tonight's game with a bruised ankle.

Panthers General Manager Bryan Murray said Friday that he is interested in acquiring Muller.

"I made a call to [Toronto General Manager) Cliff Fletcher and he hasn't called me back since," Murray said. "I don't think they'll do anything until the deadline if they even do anything."

Sheppard close to 30

Pittsburgh's Jaromir Jagr and the Panthers' Ray Sheppard are the only two players in the NHL to have scored 30 or more goals each of the past five seasons.

Sheppard posted his third hat trick of the season Thursday, putting the right winger just four goals shy of extending the string to six years. Sheppard, who has 301 goals in his career, is riding a four-game point streak in which he has six points.

MacLean had not decided Friday which defenseman he will rest tonight against Toronto.

In all but one game this season, MacLean has dressed six defensemen. With seven healthy defensemen - Geoff Smith is out with a separated shoulder - MacLean has the luxury of resting a defenseman every game.

Over the last three games, MacLean has rested Terry Carkner, Gord Murphy and Ed Jovanovski. Paul Laus missed the game before that with a sprained ankle.

"It's not so much resting them as it is keeping them sharp," MacLean said. "It's also not so much missing the game as it is giving them maybe four days off rather than two.''